PADI BASIC MERMAID INSTRUCTOR COURSE

Live life with a beaming smile by the water – become a PADI Basic Mermaid instructor on this 3-day course. Start your journey as a professional in the mermaid dive business!

- Only 4 x Guests per Course

- Enrolment Closes One Week before the Course

- Begin Your Professional Career as a Mermaid and Underwater Performer Educator

The Multi-Day PADI Basic Mermaid Instructor course is perfect for Merfolk interested in beginning a new career as a Mermaid Instructor and developing a fun local merfolk community. You'll already be confident swimming with a monofin and performing underwater. Just imagine working in the career you dream of, teaching mermaiding and underwater performance with others! Located in the well-being centre of Mornington Peninsula.

To join this course you must hold the PADI Advanced Mermaid qualification (or recognised equivalent) and have well developed swimming skills to gain the most from the course.

As a PADI Basic Mermaid Instructor you are eligible to provide the PADI Discover Mermaid Experience as well as the PADI Basic Mermaid course, which is a fun way to begin sharing your passion with new merfolk of all ages. To complete your instructor training, a formal application process applies which sets your foundations solidly for success.

Course Location: Mornington Peninsula, VIC

Ideal for all advanced certified mermaids (PADI Advanced Mermaid) comfortable diving -3m to -10m, interested in confidently teaching and educating others.

Through healthy, supportive and stress-free development in mermaiding, set yourself free from the things holding you back and become happy and confident beginning a new professional life.

Developing the skills and knowledge within your reach moves you towards PADI Basic Mermaid Instructor certification, available upon successful completion of the course.

Meet Your Instructor

Marlon Quinn - PADI Freedive and Mermaid Instructor Trainer

Let the water flow around you and learn to see within on a specialist retreat led by former IT Executive turned Sea Changer, Freediving Instructor Trainer, RIB Pilot and Dolphin & Seal Tour Host, Marlon Quinn.

He himself was not a natural freediver. Having feinted at the pool from cold as a young child. On another occasion being rushed to hospital unable to breathe, feeling as if suffocating. Being crushed to expiration by wayward teens in a game of stacks-on. Surely not the core foundations to holding one’s breath.

As an adult though, he at last found the sea, only to encounter a stingray head-on and retreat with fright. This was the catalyst though, to learn with the world’s best freedivers, the modern gods of the sea, where he found beauty and peace within himself, on one breath, freediving deep into the blue sea. In 2013 Marlon founded the Melbourne Freedivers Club and since 2014 Marlon has evoked the true passion of the water, providing freediving courses across Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia. Going on to develop a multi-award winning dolphin & seal tour RIB charter operator and recognised premiere PADI Freediver and Mermaid Centre.

Highlights

Discover your inner dolphin and adopt the ocean as your home on this multi-day mermaiding course for just four guests.

• Supportive & Stress Free Learning:   Develop step by step with your dedicated instructor and reach PADI Basic Mermaid Instructor certification without pressure of performance
• Swim like a Dolphin:    Find your inner dolphin, enjoy demonstrating and refining your mermaiding skills during personalised coaching in a small group
• Teaching & Presentation:    Guided sessions to develop your new presentation and teaching skills for increased confidence
• Hot Springs Water Wellness:    Relax into the soothing waters of the Hot Springs for new water knowledge and ease followed by instructor-led stretching routine
  
• Refreshing Ourselves:    Light refreshments provided and a late lunch to close the retreat, hosted by your instructor

Skill Level

• Intermediate-Advanced   (eg PADI Mermaid AND PADI Advanced Mermaid certified or SSI Mermaid Advanced or other equivalent qualification.

- The ability to swim at least 400m without swim aids / floatation devices
- The ability to back float on the water's surface at least 10 minutes without sinking 
- The ability to swim 800m using mask, fins and snorkel, unlimited time

Health & Hygiene

We are committed to the safety of our guests, tour guides, skippers, and the people in our local communities around Port Phillip Bay and on the Mornington Peninsula. Have confidence that you are supported by an endorsed and recognised COVID Clean Practicing Business under the Australian Tourism Industry Council Quality Tourism Australia program. This provides guests with additional assurance that we have adopted global health and hygiene standards designed to keep your travels as safe as possible.

This endorsement is recognised by the World Travel and Tourism Council’s Safe Travels Stamp, which is the standard regulatory bodies and guests expect for tour operators worldwide.

Program

Get ready to set yourself free with WaterMaarq in the beautiful restorative waters of Mornington Peninsula and southern Port Phillip Bay.

An important place of indigenous, colonial history and unique temperate reef waters and protected marine creatures and bird life. 

Includes:

• Multi-Day Retreat Based at the Peninsula Hot Springs
• PADI e-learning access for on-line learning before the retreat
• Presentation and Teaching exercises
• Pool performance skills, safety drills & dynamic mermaid session
• Hot Springs bathe & stretching session
• PADI Basic Mermaid Instructor Certification
  
• 4 x Guests Maximum

• Welcome, Theory Recap & Self-Awareness
• Breathwork & Guided Meditation
• Pool Mermaid Dynamic Skills

Day 2

• Hot Springs Bathe & Guided Stretching
• Business Development and Course Exam
  
• Pool Mermaid Safety Skills and Demonstrations
• Debrief & Closure

Bathing suit, 5mm wetsuit including hood, weightbelt and weights, mask and snorkel, fins, towel(s), neoprene gloves and socks, re-useable water bottle, and, personal sunscreen.

Optional: Mermaid Tail / Monofin, Swimming / Synchro Style Nose Clip / Sinus Saver Nose Plugs / Freediving Noseclip

Course Completion Requirements

To become an active PADI Basic Mermaid Instructor, participants must meet certain prerequisites and graduation requirements.

Prerequisites:​

- 18 years of age or older

- Holding a PADI Advanced Mermaid Certification (or have a equivalent certification from another training organisation)

- Holding a valid (within 12 months ) PADI Divers Medical Statement

- Holding a valid (within 24 months ) EFR First Aid Primary Care and Secondary Care Certification (or have a equivalent certification from another training organisation)

- 5 skills assessment

• Ability to swim 400m without swim aids
• Ability to float comfortably at the surface for at least 10 mins
• Ability to swim 800m, using mask, fins and snorkel, unlimited time
• Towing a mermaid diver 100m with Mer-fins
• Towing a unconscious mermaid diver 50m with Mer-fins 

- 7 mermaid skills performance

- Pass the theory exam (75 pts)

- Pass the knowledge teaching (75 pts)

- Pass the underwater skills teaching (75 pts)

Included Excursion

During this course, you will enjoy a bathing experience at the Peninsula Hot Springs, as well as a several pool training sessions for skill and performance development.

Location

This wonderful retreat takes place on the beautiful Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, Australia. It's around a 90-minute drive from Melbourne. In modern life the Mornington Peninsula is well known as a centre of well-being, surrounded by the waters of Port Phillip Bay and the Southern Ocean and Bass Strait. An incredible environment it is a destination that favours relaxing activities and immersion in Nature. Renowned for fresh produce farms, marine delicacies and long-established wineries, the Mornington Peninsula provides experiences for the discerning visitor. Historically rich, the region was home to the Boon Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation that may have traversed the shores for more than 40,000 years. First Settled by the British in early 1800s, it is an area now recognised for healthy living and protected wildlife including Australian Fur Seals, Bottlenose Dolphins (Burrunan) and Weedy Seadragons.

PADI Basic Mermaid Instructor Certification

This Multi-Day Basic Mermaid Instructor Retreat provides the opportunity for you to develop skills and knowledge within your reach and move towards certification as an instructor, which is available upon successful completion of the retreat. To satisfactorily enrol in a PADI Basic Mermaid Instructor certification course you must be at least 18 years old. You need strong swimming skills and need to be in good physical health. Prior experience with mermaiding and a current PADI Advanced Mermaid or equivalent certification is required.

• Caters to mermaids, underwater performers, skindivers and intermediate freedivers
• Minimum age: 18 years
• Develop skills to demonstrate new mermaiding teaching and education skills in the pool and classroom setting
• Successful completion results in world-recognised PADI Basic Mermaid Instructor certification (PADI application process applies)

• Session fees are non-refundable (unless the session is cancelled by us for unforeseen circumstances), please choose your experience with care. Trip insurance is highly recommended as cover for unforeseen cancellations
• Retreat are held on the Mornington Peninsula and visit Fingal and Rosebud VIC during the sessions
• Please arrive at the beginning venue 15 minutes before commencement time to ensure you have enough time to check in and get settled
• Please dress comfortably
• Please bring a bag with your swimmers, 5mm wetsuit, fins, mask, snorkel, weightbelt, a towel and your own re-usable water bottle. Rental equipment is available.
• Guests must be able to swim. Retreats do not cater for people with no swimming ability. The Instructor retains the right to refuse participation in which case your attendance is forfeited
• Guests with back, neck, or heart conditions, those who are pregnant or who have injuries/conditions that may cause a risk to their health are advised not to participate, or do so at their own risk
• A Diver's Medical Statement and Questionnaire must be submitted to attend the course
• A diving medical (AS4005.1) may be required prior to commencement of the course
• Subject to minimum numbers and may be rescheduled if minimum numbers are not met
• The supplier reserves the right to substitute the venue / pool and / or change the day’s itinerary without notice